West Chester awards patrol contract

WEST CHESTER — Following the withdrawal of a bid from AlliedBarton Security Services, Borough Council awarded this year’s contract for a private security patrol in the southeast neighborhoods to ELPS Private Detective Agency.

“I think it was very gracious of them what (AlliedBarton) did,” said Councilman Chuck Christy.

ELPS, the service provider in 2012, received a unanimous recommendation from the borough public safety committee last week to continue the service, but was not the lowest bidder in the search. The committee had recommended the award to ELPS because of the company’s familiarity with the neighbors and problems in the affected communities.

Four security services, including ELPS and AlliedBarton, responded to a request for proposal sent in December of last year.

The committee eliminated the two highest bidders immediately, leaving ELPS and AlliedBarton.

AlliedBarton was the lowest bid with a rate of $16.77 per hour, while ELPS came just above at $18.50.

The borough’s code states council must award the bid to the lowest “responsible bidder.” AlliedBarton legally had to be chosen as council members stated at Tuesday’s work session because they determined both providers were “responsible.” Since AlliedBarton withdrew its bid, ELPS was the lowest bidder.

Councilman Jordan Norley said he spoke with AlliedBarton representative Chris Eves after Tuesday’s meeting about the project. According to Norley, Eves said the security company would recruit the best candidates for the patrol, though this would have been in a tight time frame as service is scheduled to begin in 10 days.

On Wednesday, Eves sent an e-mail to council stating that because of the short turnaround and the prior relationship with ELPS, it was in the interest of all parties to withdraw AlliedBarton’s bid from consideration.

Norley called the e-mail from Eves “very polite” and praised the recognition the security company gave toward realizing the borough already had a provider which it was comfortable with.

“I think that this is a professional move by AlliedBarton and I think it’s also in the best interest of the borough residents to continue with what we know works, tried and true, ELPS has done an excellent job.”

Locally based in Conshohocken, AlliedBarton manages 5,200 security officers in the area and is the largest security contract provider in the country.

“We really pride ourselves on client loyalty and continuing relationships with the communities,” Eves said Tuesday. “We were not going to stand in the way if you make that decision with who had been successful.”

Despite the apparent rejection of the bid, ELPS President Jeff Stein thanked council Tuesday. “We were passionate about the project,” Stein said.

“I personally thank you,” Norley said Tuesday. “You took a very controversial program and made it into something people really demanded.”

The item was placed on the consent agenda for Wednesday’s meeting, but was pulled for discussion after the withdrawal of the bid. Council unanimously approved the award to ELPS at Wednesday’s meeting.

“They know the routes the homes and trouble areas,” Norley said. “I’m sure AlliedBarton would have done a great job as well, but long story short I think this is to the benefit of the borough.”

The security program that began on a trial basis early last year and was renewed for the fall semesteris funded by the West Chester University Foundation. The foundation has pledged to maintain funding for the 2013 year.

Four security officers were hired to work in teams of two and patrol the southeastern neighborhoods of the borough from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Areas patrolled would consist mainly of those streets in Ward 4 and Ward 2 often used by students moving to and from the downtown area during the week.

ELPS has aided in stopping quality-of-life crimes, such as noise violations, assaults and drunken driving, Stein said, and it prevented about 25 to 35 altercations that may have otherwise needed emergency responders.

Some council members and residents have been critical of the service because in many ways it can’t be quantified.

Last year a survey was sent to residents inquiring about the service. All of the responders said they found the service beneficial.